Dominion Strategy Forum

Dominion => Dominion General Discussion => Topic started by: jaybh on November 26, 2011, 05:15:05 pm

Title: Request for Volunteers to take part in Cognitive Science study
Post by: jaybh on November 26, 2011, 05:15:05 pm
Hello,

I am a PhD student in Cognitive Science at the University of Minnesota, and I am doing a research project that studies how skill level affects how information is represented and processed by people playing games.  I would like to study Dominion specifically because I find it to be a fascinating and unique game and because it has a sizeable online commmunity.  However, in order to do so, I need to have volunteers to participate in my project.  For the first part of the study, I am looking for 5-10 volunteers who meet the following criteria:
-Have an account on isotropic
-Preferably Level 20 or higher
-Have Skype
-Are willing to commit to at least one 30-minute data-gathering session

The data-gathering sessions will consist mainly of playing Dominion while engaging in a "thinking-aloud protocol" -  essentially saying what you are thinking while you play the game.  I will record and transcribe these sessions (hence the need for Skype), and then analyze the transcripts for trends or commonalities between individuals.

If you are interested, please email me at benha015@umn.edu, even if you do not meet all of the criteria. Unfortunately, I do not have any funding associated with this project to reimburse volunteers for their time, but if anyone is so kind as to volunteer, I would be glad to figure out a way to provide some sort of material reward for participating (such as a pizza).

Thank you for your time,
James Benhardus
Title: Re: Request for Volunteers to take part in Cognitive Science study
Post by: popsofctown on November 26, 2011, 05:33:51 pm
How about mailing us a paper copy of your final thesis product or the journal that prints your research?  Seems like an affordable, appropriate reward.
Title: Re: Request for Volunteers to take part in Cognitive Science study
Post by: Guy Srinivasan on November 27, 2011, 02:23:07 am
Publish your data openly. Later, publish your thesis openly. Open Science (http://michaelnielsen.org/blog/open-science-2/) is very much reward enough for me, also why would I want a paper copy over digital ???
Title: Re: Request for Volunteers to take part in Cognitive Science study
Post by: popsofctown on November 27, 2011, 05:30:19 pm
I think this guy isn't actually serious about the research..
Title: Re: Request for Volunteers to take part in Cognitive Science study
Post by: Manto on November 29, 2011, 02:18:12 pm
Cool, good luck on your research!
Title: Re: Request for Volunteers to take part in Cognitive Science study
Post by: pooka on November 29, 2011, 03:53:53 pm
Why would he not be serious?  I guess there's the hazard he uses your email to hack your ID.   :o
Title: Re: Request for Volunteers to take part in Cognitive Science study
Post by: popsofctown on December 02, 2011, 11:06:54 am
he answered my email a tad slow and hasn't returned to this thread.

He did answer it eventually though. 
Title: Re: Request for Volunteers to take part in Cognitive Science study
Post by: painted_cow on December 02, 2011, 01:59:49 pm
I helped him out with the study and had no problems at all. So feel free to help this fellow out!